Tarik Skubal has spent the last two seasons as arguably the best pitcher in the game, but this winter he’s dealing with a different kind of spotlight – one he is not comfortable dealing with. His name keeps popping up in trade rumors, and for the first time, the Detroit Tigers ace addressed what it’s actually like living inside that constant swirl.
On Foul Territory Thursday, Skubal didn’t deny the noise or pretend it doesn’t reach him. He acknowledged what most star players won’t say publicly: it’s impossible to avoid.
“With the way social media is, it’s hard not to see things about yourself,” Skubal said. “But it doesn’t impact who I am on a day-to-day basis. It’s all out of my control.”
He made one thing clear early — the rumors aren’t coming from him.
“I don’t want to be traded,” he said. “You see the talk, but it doesn’t change how I work. I’m still preparing the same way.”
The two-time Cy Young Award winner admitted he’s confused why his name keeps showing up in proposals from big-market teams.
Detroit hasn’t signaled any desire to move him, but industry chatter points to the realities of the market: he’s entering his final arbitration year, free agency is coming fast, and his value has never been higher after back-to-back Cy Young-caliber seasons.
Still, he doesn’t understand why fans assume something is already underway.
“Why am I even in this conversation?” Skubal said. “I’m a Tiger until they tell me otherwise.”
The rumors may not affect him, but his family isn’t always as calm. Skubal laughed while explaining that his parents occasionally see chatter and treat it like breaking news.
“My mom and dad are probably the ones asking, ‘Where are you gonna play next year?’” he said. “I’m like, I’m a Tiger. You’ll find out the same time I do if anything actually happens.”
He also made a point to tell them — repeatedly — to stay out of the online fray.
“Don’t take to social media. Don’t comment. Don’t create a story out of nothing,” he said. “My wife gets it. She stays away from it. But my family? I have to remind them.”
Skubal emphasized he understands why trade speculation exists, and he didn’t criticize the coverage. He called it “part of the job.” But his answer to the central question — how he feels about a possible blockbuster — was straightforward.
He’s not the one pushing for a trade. And until he hears otherwise, he’s preparing like Detroit is still home.